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What is CYFRA 21-1 test?
CYFRA 21-1 is a soluble fragment of the cytokeratin-19 protein, a type of cell surface protein whose expression doesn’t change in cancer cells - it is not increased or decreased. However, as more cells are present in a tumour or cancer (than a healthy tissue), a person with cancer would have more amount of cytokine 19.
Since it is found in serum, CYFRA 21-1 can be used to detect the amount of cytokine 19 and hence the presence of cancer. Although CYFRA 21-1 is present in most body tissues, it is present in high amount in lungs. Thus, it is considered an important marker for lung cancer.
Studies suggest that high levels of CYFRA 21-1 are found in the serum of lung cancer patients, especially those with non-small cell lung cancer.
A CYFRA 21-1 test is hence used to diagnose non-small cell lung cancer.
Non-small cell lung cancer is a relatively less aggressive form of lung cancer, which shows larger cell structures than the more aggressive small cell lung cancer.
Lung Cancer originates when there is an uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells anywhere in the lungs. Cancer cells do not mature like normal functioning cells and tend to divide far more rapidly, thus forming a mass of unwanted cells (tumour). Initially, the lump of cells may remain localised, but there is always a chance that cancer could spread to other areas of the body such as nearby organs and lymph nodes. Individuals having a family history of lung cancer are at higher risk of getting this disease. Other risk factors that increase one’s predisposition to the disease are as follows:
- Long-term exposure to air pollution
- Presence of pulmonary fibrosis
- Exposure to radiation (during radiation therapy)
- Smoking
- Prolonged exposure to carcinogenic substances such as arsenic and cadmium
- Family history
- Presence of HIV or tuberculosis infection
